Balassar just follows his two companions as they begin to set their course for the next adventure for the Irregulars. He just nods at Rhane's suggestion "Might be good to get materials. Maybe our patron will pay for some extra stuff as well to prepare for the journey."

Rhane:

“Sounds good, but we should also check out the place Alton found before we leave town.  Want to do that tonight, then follow up with the escort mission in the morning?” Suggests Rhane.

Balassar nods “Sounds good.”

Rhane:

Securing his weapons and double checking the rest of his kit, Rhane looks to Alton and says, “Lead the way,” following right afterwards.

You set out in late evening; the streets are still busy with last-minute shoppers returning home, and the shops and stalls of the Pentamarket are in the process of closing. You do have time to do a little shopping (if there are any supplies you want to get at this point, let me know - most common items would be available, except healing potions and a few other things that would have been affected by the war).

Within a short space of time, you find yourself standing down the far end of a dark alley of a now-quiet street. It was not hard to find the address Alton uncovered. The large building - once a house, like its neighbour, or at least so you might suppose - stands empty, the windows boarded up, the door barred. There is no access to the back, at least not from here - there are houses to either side, one of which appears occupied, the other similarly empty. Down the other end of the alley near the street, three children ages six to eight, are playing a game, and two women stand in a doorway, conversing in low voices.

What will you do?

Alton looks at the boarded up building, "I guess whomever was here moved on. It has been a good amount of time since he was here." He glances at the kids and two women before looking back at the building. He scans the area looking for any signs that someone has been using the place or the other empty house. 

Perception: 26 (Rolled a nat 1 and used halfling luck to roll a19+7, halfling luck coming in clutch.)

There is no sign that anyone has been using the place you are interested in; it appears to be quite firmly closed up. The house to the side, though - you don't see anyone there now, but your keen eyes tell you it might be a little more occupied than you thought at first. There are footprints on the path leading to the house, and marks on the ground suggest that the door has been opened recently, and frequently.

Seeing that the other door has seen recent and frequent use, Alton goes up to it and carefully tries the door. If it opens he will open it just enough to peek inside.

It does open. Inside you see an empty room - no furniture, no people at the moment. The wooden floor has dust on it, with footprints - from the last few days, but not the last few hours. The room has one wooden door leading further into the building - it is closed.

Balassar just taps Alton’s shoulder “I can take the lead” he says stepping into the room carefully and looking around as he approaches the door.

No reaction from the room; nothing new to be seen, and you don't hear anything from beyond the door. Do you try to open it?

Alton nods at Balassar and takes up the spot behind him. He conjures up a mage hand and floats it over to open the closed door.

Rhane:

Moving into the building as well, Rhane closes the outer door behind the last party member to enter. 

Alton, the mage hand opens the second door just as Rhane is closing the first. No problem with either action.

Peeking through, another disused and mostly empty room. This one has a trapdoor in the corner, and a further door leading on into the house.

"Should we clear the house or just go down the trapdoor?" Alton asks the group.

Rhane:

”The trapdoor may be a connection to the house we truly wish to explore, but it is probably worth clearing the rest of this house first.  Does anyone have a noisemaker to set on the trapdoor so we are alerted if someone comes in this way?” suggests Rhane.

Alton shakes his head, "I don't really have anything." 

Balassar looks at the two and blinks "I don't have anything." he just looks around for a moment "The house might not take long, but if someone is already using this and moving out from here than we give them time."

Alton looks around, "With the way these first two rooms look, I don't think the rest of the house is being used. I could be wrong though." He thinks for a moment, "We could check the next room and if it doesn't show signs of use, then we can go down the trapdoor. How's that sound?" 

Rhane:

”Agreed,” says Rhane, “Let’s keep moving.”  He walks into the next room.